Retail Cosmetic Products Packaged Into Segment Containers

ABSTRACT

A parent container comprising cosmetic products configured for retail sale, the container including a first segment container with a first container space that includes only cosmetic products associated with a first cosmetic segment and a second segment container with a second container space that includes only cosmetic products associated with a second cosmetic segment; any of the containers can also be used for other kinds of products, besides retail cosmetics.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to parent containers that are shipped to retailers, and in particular, to parent containers containing retail products that are sorted by segment into segment containers within the parent container.

BACKGROUND

Manufacturers make retail products that are packaged together in parent containers and shipped to retailers. Retailers unpack the parent containers and stock the retail products into displays in their stores.

Sometimes, multiple units of a single retail product are provided together inside of an intermediate container, such as a carton. However, this approach can result in several disadvantages. This approach requires a stocker to unpack the multiple units and to discard or recycle the intermediate container, which requires extra time and effort, and generates additional waste or recyclable material. Further, the multiple units provided in the intermediate container may not match the retailer's need for that particular retail product. For example, a retailer may need two units of a particular retail product to fill its display, and may only have room in the display for those two units. If that particular retail product is provided in an intermediate container that containers three units, then there is no room in the display for the third unit. The third unit must either be added to the display in a place out of its assigned space or added to the store's inventory. This can lead to messy displays or unwanted store inventory, which is undesirable and less efficient, and can sometimes lead to inventory losses and/or damage to the excess unit(s). Still further, the use of intermediate containers may delay a stocker from identifying what the intermediate product is, which can lengthen the stocking process, resulting in further inefficiency. These problems are exacerbated when the retail products are small, oddly shaped, and/or fragile (which can lead to the use of intermediate packaging) and/or when the retail products sell through at a relatively slow rate (which can lead to refilling displays in very small quantities—sometimes just one or two units at a time).

Additionally, a single parent container may include various numbers of units of different retail products, wherein each retail product needs to be stocked into a unique location in the retailer's display. It is the stocker's job to take the retail products from the parent container and stock them into the retail display. To do this, the stocker must identify each unit of each retail product and find its corresponding place in the display. Often, the parent container includes more units of retail products than the stocker can reasonably carry (in their hands) at one time. So, the stocker will often have to make several stocking trips, moving back and forth, from the parent container to the display and back again, to stock all of the retail products in the parent container. This can be an inefficient process. For example, if a stocker only takes some of a particular retail item in one stocking trip, then the stocker must make a second stocking trip back to that same place in the retail display.

Sometimes, a retail display for one manufacturer is divided into particular portions, with each portion containing retail products of a similar kind; a group of these products of similar kind is sometimes referred to as a segment. The parent container from this one manufacturer can include retail products for more than segment. However, if, in one stocking trip, a stocker takes only some of the retail products (in the parent container) for one segment and only some of the retail products (in the parent container) for another segment, then the stocker must make at least one additional trip back to those same portions of the retail display; this can also be inefficient.

These inefficiencies with stockers moving back and forth between parent containers and retail displays are exacerbated when the retail products are small and/or when the retail products sell through at a relatively slow rate (which can lead to parent containers having varying numbers of units of many different retail products). These inefficiencies are further exacerbated when the retail display is quite large, which lengthens the distance the stocker must travel for each trip between the parent container and the retail display. Such large retail displays are not uncommon, with some manufacturer displays measuring anywhere from one or two meters long up to the length of an entire store aisle, which can be ten meters long or longer (or other varying lengths).

SUMMARY

In various embodiments, the present disclosure includes a parent container comprising cosmetic products configured for retail sale, wherein the cosmetic products include, at least: a first plurality of cosmetic products, each associated with a first cosmetic segment; and a second plurality of cosmetic products, each associated with a second cosmetic segment, which differs from the first cosmetic segment; and a plurality of segment containers, which includes, at least: a first segment container, with a first container space that includes only cosmetic products associated with the first cosmetic segment and at least some of the first plurality of cosmetic products; and a second segment container, with a second container space that includes only cosmetic products associated with the second cosmetic segment and at least some of the second plurality of cosmetic products.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an elevation view of a retail cosmetic display, as known in the prior art.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of a parent container filled with retail cosmetic products, as known in the prior art.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of a segment container for a face cosmetic segment, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of a segment container for a lips cosmetic segment, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of a segment container for a nails cosmetic segment, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 shows a side view of a segment container for an eyes cosmetic segment, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 shows a side view of a segment container for a miscellaneous cosmetic segment, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 shows a side view of a parent container, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments disclosed herein can be used to provide greater effeciencies when stocking retail cosmetic products from parent containers into retail cosmetic displays. In various embodiments, there is no intermediate container, so a stocker is not required to unpack multiple units from an intermediate container and to discard or recycle that intermediate container. This saves time and effort, and reduces the generation of waste or recyclable material. When there is no intermediate container, units of retail product can consistently be provided in quantities that match a retailer's need for refilling a particular retail product. This can lead to cleaner displays and/or less unwanted store inventory, which can lead to fewer inventory losses and/or less damage to products. Still further, the elimination of intermediate containers can shorten the stocking process, resulting in further efficiency. These solutions can be significant for retail cosmetic products, which are often small, oddly shaped, and/or fragile products, which (due to their many varieties of shades and types) sometimes sell through at a relatively slow rate.

Also, embodiments of the present disclosure can at least assist a stocker in identifying each unit of each retail cosmetic product and find its corresponding place in the display. Segment containers that are transparent plastic bags and/or include segment indicia, can allow a stocker to more quickly identify the retail cosmetic products.

Further, segment containers that are appropriately sized and/or that include handles can allow the stocker to reasonably carry (with their hands) multiple units of the same cosmetic product, at one time. So, the stocker may need to make fewer stocking trips, moving back and forth, from the parent container to the display and back again, to stock all of retail products in the parent container.

Still further, segment containers that only contain units of cosmetic products for a single cosmetic segment, can assist a stocker in taking only the retail products (in the parent container) for the one segment; this can also be more efficient. These effcicienies can be further increased, in embodiments wherein all of the cosmetic products for a particular segment are in one segment container.

These efficiencies for stockers in moving back and forth between parent containers and retail displays can be significant for retail cosmetic products, which are often provided in parent containers having varying numbers of units of many different retail cosmetic products. They can also be significant for cosmetic retail displays, which can be quite large, thus shortening the overall distance the stocker must travel for their trips between the parent container and the retail display.

A parent container can comprise cosmetic products configured for retail sale, wherein the cosmetic products include, at least: a first plurality of cosmetic products, each associated with a first cosmetic segment; and a second plurality of cosmetic products, each associated with a second cosmetic segment, which differs from the first cosmetic segment; and a plurality of segment containers, which includes, at least: a first segment container, with a first container space that includes only cosmetic products associated with the first cosmetic segment and at least some of the first plurality of cosmetic products; and a second segment container, with a second container space that includes only cosmetic products associated with the second cosmetic segment and at least some of the second plurality of cosmetic products.

While the embodiment described above (and other embodiments contained herein) illustrate aspects of the invention for use with a first segment container and a second segment container, it is contemplated that any variation of any of the embodiments disclosed herein (for containers and for methods of packaging them and for methods of stocking from them) can be similarly applied to any number of segments, including one segment, two segments, three segments, four segments, five segments, or even more segments.

In some embodiments of a parent container, a first container space of a first segment container can include all of the cosmetic products in the parent container that are associated with the first segment and a second container space of a second segment container can include all of the cosmetic products in the same parent container that are associated with the second segment; in various embodiments, none, or one, or more than one, or even all of the other segment containers in the parent container can be configured in the same way.

In some embodiments of a parent container, one or two or more or even all of the segment containers can have a container space that includes only cosmetic products associated with one cosmetic segment (e.g. face, eyes, lips, nails, miscellaneous).

In some embodiments of a parent container, the cosmetic products in the parent container can be associated with a plurality of cosmetic segments, each of these cosmetic products can be associated with one of the cosmetic segments (e.g. face, eyes, lips, nails, miscellaneous), and for each of the cosmetic segments, all of the cosmetic products associated with that segment can be included in a container space for one segment container.

In some embodiments of a parent container, a first segment container and a second segment container can each be configured to be used as a separate container; in various embodiments, none, or one, or more than one, or even all of the other segment containers in the parent container can be configured in the same way.

One or two or more or even all of the segment containers in a parent container, in any embodiment disclosed herein, can be configured in any of the following ways, in any combination. A segment container can be made in any way, from any suitable material. A segment container can be made from a material that is flexible. A segment container can be made from a material that is recyclable. A segment container can be made from a material that is sheet-like. A segment container can be made from a material that is at least partially transparent. A segment container can be made from a material that is at least partially transparent. A segment container can be made from a material that is at least substantially transparent. A segment container can be made from a material that is completely transparent. A segment container can be a plastic bag. A segment container can include one or more handles and/or one or more additional/alternate structural features to enable carrying by a person or handling by a machine. A segment container can be filled and/or packaged up in any way known in the art. A segment container can include a reclosable closure. A segment container can be closed in any way, including the closing of a reclosable closure. A segment container can be sealed in any way. A segment container can include a single-use opening or a multi-use opening. A segment container can be opened and unpacked in any way, including the opening of a single-use opening. A segment container can also be configured in any other way known in the art.

A cosmetic segment container can include one or more indicia configured to represent one, or two, or more particular cosmetic segments (e.g. face, eyes, lips, nails, miscellaneous). These one or more indicia can be provided on a label that is affixed to the segment container. These one or more indicia can be printed directly on the segment container. As an example, one or more indicia configured to represent a face cosmetic segment can include: the word FACE, a graphic depicting a human face, or any other indicium known in the art to represent a face, and any combination of any of these. As an example, one or more indicia configured to represent an eyes cosmetic segment can include: the word EYES, a graphic depicting one or more human eyes, or any other indicium known in the art to represent eyes, and any combination of any of these. As an example, one or more indicia configured to represent a lips segment can include: the word LIPS, a graphic depicting one or more human lips, or any other indicium known in the art to represent lips, and any combination of any of these. As an example, one or more indicia configured to represent a nails segment can include: the word NAILS, a graphic depicting one or more human fingernails and/or toenails, and any combination of any of these. Additionally/alternatively, a cosmetic segment container can include one or more indicia configured to represent one, or two, or more particular portions of a retail cosmetic display; these indicia can include one or more of any character, graphic, brand, and/or visual element configured to represent the particular portion(s), either descriptively by itself, or in correspondence with other indicia located at the retail display or used in conjunction with other reference material(s).

In various embodiments, one or two or more or even all of the cosmetic segment containers in a parent container can directly contain cosmetic products in its container space, that is, without any intermediate packaging between the cosmetic products and the segment container.

A parent container, in any embodiment disclosed herein, can be configured in any of the following ways, in any combination. A parent container can be made in any way, from any suitable material. A parent container can be a cardboard box. A parent container can include one or more handles and/or one or more additional/alternate structural features to enable carrying by a person or handling by a machine. A parent container can be filled and/or packaged up in any way known in the art. A parent container can be closed in any way, including being closed for shipping to a retailer. A parent container can be sealed in any way, including being sealed for shipping to a retailer. A parent container can be opened and unpacked in any way. A parent container can also be configured in any other way known in the art.

Any of the embodiments for segment containers and/or parent containers, disclosed herein, can be formed, filled, assembled, packaged up, closed, sealed, labeled, marked up, and/or otherwise created using various process steps, in any workable order, by hand and/or by machine(s), in any way known in the art.

The embodiments disclosed herein can be used to provide greater efficiencies when stocking retail cosmetic products from parent containers into retail cosmetic displays. In various embodiments, there is no intermediate container, so a stocker is not required to unpack multiple units from an intermediate container and to discard or recycle that intermediate container. This saves time and effort, and reduces the generation of waste or recyclable material. When there is no intermediate container, units of retail product can consistently be provided in quantities that match a retailer's need for a refilling a particular retail product. This can lead to cleaner displays and/or less unwanted store inventory, which can lead to fewer inventory losses and/or less damage to products. Still further, the elimination of intermediate containers can shorten the stocking process, resulting in further efficiency. These solutions can be significant for retail cosmetic products, which are often small, oddly shaped, and/or fragile products, which (due to their many varieties of shades and types) sometimes sell through at a relatively slow rate.

Also, embodiments of the present disclosure can at least assist a stocker in identifying each unit of each retail cosmetic product and find its corresponding place in the display. Segment containers that are transparent plastic bags and/or include segment indicia, can allow a stocker to more quickly identify the retail cosmetic products.

Further, segment containers that are appropriately sized and/or that include handles can allow the stocker to reasonably carry (with their hands) multiple units of the same cosmetic product, at one time. So, the stocker may need to make fewer stocking trips, moving back and forth, from the parent container to the display and back again, to stock all of retail products in the parent container.

Still further, segment containers that only contain units of cosmetic products for a single cosmetic segment, can assist a stocker in taking only the retail products (in the parent container) for the one segment; this can also be more efficient. These effcicienies can be further increased, in embodiments wherein all of the cosmetic products for a particular segment are in one segment container.

These efficiencies for stockers in moving back and forth between parent containers and retail displays can be significant for retail cosmetic products, which are often provided in parent containers having varying numbers of units of many different retail cosmetic products. They can also be significant for cosmetic retail displays, which can be quite large, thus shortening the overall distance the stocker must travel for their trips between the parent container and the retail display.

Throughout the present disclosure, embodiments of the invention are described with reference to cosmetic retail products and retail cosmetic displays, however, it is contemplated that: any of the embodiments of containers disclosed herein can be similarly applied for use with other kinds of retail products or with non-retail products; any of the embodiments of methods of packaging such containers, disclosed herein can be similarly applied for use with other kinds of retail products or with non-retail products; any of the embodiments of methods of stocking such packages disclosed herein can be similarly applied for use with other kinds of retail products or with non-retail products; and any of the applications for stocking retail cosmetic displays can be similarly used for stocking these other kinds of products.

FIG. 1 shows an elevation view of a retail cosmetic display 100, as known in the prior art. The display 100 is divided into portions 101, 102, 103, 104, and 105, with each portion representing a particular cosmetic segment. The portion 101 represents a face cosmetic segment and displays retail cosmetic products associated with the face segment. The portion 102 represents a lips cosmetic segment and displays retail cosmetic products associated with the lips segment. The portion 103 represents a nails cosmetic segment and displays retail cosmetic products associated with the nails segment. The portion 104 represents an eyes cosmetic segment and displays retail cosmetic products associated with the eyes segment. The portion 105 represents a miscellaneous cosmetic segment and displays retail cosmetic products associated with the miscellaneous segment. The retail cosmetic display 100 can be configured in any way described herein and/or in any way known in the art, in any workable combination.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of a parent container 201 filled with retail cosmetic products, as known in the prior art. As shown, the parent container 201 includes various numbers of units of different retail cosmetic products, associated with various cosmetic segments. The parent container 201 also includes several intermediate containers (shown as the boxes on the right side), each of which contains one or more retail cosmetic products. The parent container 201 can be configured in any way described herein and/or in any way known in the art, in any workable combination.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of a segment container 301 for a face cosmetic segment, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The segment container 301 includes a face indicium 302, which is a graphic of a human face. The segment container 301 is illustrated as transparent in order to show its contents. The segment container 301 contains retail cosmetic products 303 associated with the face segment, directly contained within the container space of the container 301, without intermediate packaging. The segment container 301 can be configured according to any embodiment described herein. The segment container 301 can also be included in a parent container, according to any embodiment disclosed herein.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of a segment container 401 for a lips cosmetic segment, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The segment container 401 includes a lips indicium 402, which is a graphic of human lips. The segment container 401 is illustrated as transparent in order to show its contents. The segment container 401 contains retail cosmetic products 403 associated with the lips segment, directly contained within the container space of the container 401, without intermediate packaging. The segment container 401 can be configured according to any embodiment described herein. The segment container 401 can also be included in a parent container, according to any embodiment disclosed herein.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of a segment container 501 for a nails cosmetic segment, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The segment container 501 includes a nails indicium 502, which is a graphic of human fingernails. The segment container 501 is illustrated as transparent in order to show its contents. The segment container 501 contains retail cosmetic products 503 associated with the nails segment, directly contained within the container space of the container 501, without intermediate packaging. The segment container 501 can be configured according to any embodiment described herein. The segment container 501 can also be included in a parent container, according to any embodiment disclosed herein.

FIG. 6 shows a side view of a segment container 601 for an eyes cosmetic segment, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The segment container 601 includes an eyes indicium 602, which is a graphic of a human eye. The segment container 601 is illustrated as transparent in order to show its contents. The segment container 601 contains retail cosmetic products 603 associated with the eyes segment, directly contained within the container space of the container 601, without intermediate packaging. The segment container 601 can be configured according to any embodiment described herein. The segment container 601 can also be included in a parent container, according to any embodiment disclosed herein.

FIG. 7 shows a side view of a segment container 701 for a miscellaneous cosmetic segment, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The segment container 701 includes a miscellaneous indicium 702, which is a graphic of a cosmetic brush. The segment container 701 is illustrated as transparent in order to show its contents. The segment container 701 contains retail cosmetic products 703 associated with the miscellaneous segment, directly contained within the container space of the container 701, without intermediate packaging. The segment container 701 can be configured according to any embodiment described herein. The segment container 701 can also be included in a parent container, according to any embodiment disclosed herein.

FIG. 8 shows a side view of a parent container 810, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown, the parent container 810 can include a face cosmetic segment container 803, a lips cosmetic segment container 804, a nails cosmetic segment container 805, an eyes cosmetic segment container 806, and a miscellaneous cosmetic segment container 807, each configured according to any embodiment of segment container disclosed herein. In various embodiments, the parent container 810 can contain one or more of even of these segment containers. The parent container 810 can be configured according to any embodiment described herein.

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm.”

Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A parent container comprising cosmetic products configured for retail sale, wherein the cosmetic products include, at least: a first plurality of cosmetic products, each associated with a first cosmetic segment; and a second plurality of cosmetic products, each associated with a second cosmetic segment, which differs from the first cosmetic segment; and a plurality of segment containers, which includes, at least: a first segment container, with a first container space that includes only cosmetic products associated with the first cosmetic segment and at least some of the first plurality of cosmetic products; and a second segment container, with a second container space that includes only cosmetic products associated with the second cosmetic segment and at least some of the second plurality of cosmetic products.
 2. The parent container of claim 1, wherein each of the segment containers has a container space that includes only cosmetic products associated with one cosmetic segment.
 3. The parent container of claim 2, wherein the first cosmetic segment and the second cosmetic segment are selected from the group consisting of: face segment, eyes segment, lips segment, nails segment, and miscellaneous cosmetic segment
 4. The parent container of claim 2, wherein, altogether the cosmetic products are associated with a plurality of cosmetic segments, each of the cosmetic products is associated with one of the cosmetic segments, and for each of the cosmetic segments, all of the cosmetic products associated with that segment are included in a container space for one segment container.
 5. The parent container of claim 4, wherein the first cosmetic segment and the second cosmetic segment are selected from the group including: face segment, eyes segment, lips segment, and nails segment.
 6. The parent container of claim 1, wherein each of the first segment container and the second segment container is configured to be used as a separate container.
 7. The parent container of claim 1, wherein each of the first segment container and the second segment container is a separate container.
 8. The parent container of claim 1, wherein each of the first segment container and the second segment container is made from a material that is at least partially transparent.
 9. The parent container of claim 1, wherein each of the first segment container and the second segment container is made from a material that is at least substantially transparent.
 10. The parent container of claim 1, wherein each of the first segment container and the second segment container is made from a material that is completely transparent.
 11. The parent container of claim 1, wherein each of the first segment container and the second container is closed.
 12. The parent container of claim 11, wherein each of the segment containers is closed and the parent container is closed.
 13. The parent container of claim 12, wherein the parent container is sealed for shipping.
 14. The parent container of claim 1, wherein each of the first segment container and the second container is sealed.
 15. The parent container of claim 1, wherein: the first segment container includes one or more indicia configured to represent the first cosmetic segment; the second segment container includes one or more indicia configured to represent the second cosmetic segment; and the cosmetic segments are selected from the group consisting of: face segment, eyes segment, lips segment, and nails segment.
 16. The parent container of claim 1, wherein at least one of the segment containers includes one or more indicia configured to represent a face segment, and the one or more indicia is selected from the group consisting of: the word FACE, a graphic depicting a human face, and combinations of these.
 17. The parent container of claim 1, wherein at least one of the segment containers includes one or more indicia configured to represent an eyes segment, and the one or more indicia is selected from the group consisting of: the word EYES, a graphic depicting one or more human eyes, and combinations of these.
 18. The parent container of claim 1, wherein at least one of the segment containers includes one or more indicia configured to represent a lips segment, and the one or more indicia is selected from the group consisting of: the word LIPS, a graphic depicting one or more human lips, and combinations of these.
 19. The parent container of claim 1, wherein at least one of the segment containers includes one or more indicia configured to represent a nails segment, and the one or more indicia is selected from the group consisting of: the word NAILS, a graphic depicting one or more human nails, and combinations of these.
 20. The parent container of claim 1, wherein: the first segment container includes one or more indicia configured to represent a first portion of a retail cosmetic display; and the second segment container includes one or more indicia configured to represent a second portion of the retail cosmetic display, which differs from the first portion. 